quote:

ORIGINAL: SoMnFan

There is no Cale Makar below the 3rd pick, in any draft.
We'd never get that lucky

This 9 pick will be the highest since we took Dumba at #7
Mehhhh.

quote:

ORIGINAL: stfrank

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

Ek is not Koivu II. He plays with more speed and aggression than Koivu ever did.

A little more speed and aggression that Koivu, but otherwise he is pretty much the same defensive center that will never get you more than 20 goals in a season. I agree we don't need another lock down center. We need a true #1 center that can score and dish out assists to his wingers, not more 200 ft, solid 2-way centers that will only get you 10-15 goals a season and belongs on a checking line.

quote:

ORIGINAL: SoMnFan

There's basically a couple difference-makers per draft
We are outside that realm again

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: SoMnFan

There's basically a couple difference-makers per draft
We are outside that realm again

Where I hold out hope is that this is being built up as a historically good draft class.

You can also get difference makers outside the first picks. Vancouver took Brock Boser a few picks after we took Ek.

quote:

ORIGINAL: SoMnFan

Ok, below a #4 (if that's what Makar was)

My point is we never suck enough to be in the top 3 picks, so what we get may help in 5-6 years?
The draft isn't turning this team around in a hurry.
You only do that when you suck enough to get the difference-makers.
The Avs are an example of bottoming out and now reaping the rewards.
I probably should take a couple years off, and let the Wild suck. But I figure we'd still F it up.

quote:

ORIGINAL: David Levine

quote:

ORIGINAL: SoMnFan

Ok, below a #4 (if that's what Makar was)

My point is we never suck enough to be in the top 3 picks, so what we get may help in 5-6 years?
The draft isn't turning this team around in a hurry.
You only do that when you suck enough to get the difference-makers.
The Avs are an example of bottoming out and now reaping the rewards.
I probably should take a couple years off, and let the Wild suck. But I figure we'd still F it up.

Are you talking about the Wild or the Timberwolves...

quote:

ORIGINAL: SoMnFan

Ok, below a #4 (if that's what Makar was)

My point is we never suck enough to be in the top 3 picks, so what we get may help in 5-6 years?
The draft isn't turning this team around in a hurry.
You only do that when you suck enough to get the difference-makers.
The Avs are an example of bottoming out and now reaping the rewards.
I probably should take a couple years off, and let the Wild suck. But I figure we'd still F it up.

quote:

ORIGINAL: SoMnFan

Sounds good Tim
Lets hope for a different direction

Can't say sucking on purpose helps either in the long run
Toronto and Edmonton have F-ed things up in that regard
Such a crapshoot and so hard to find the right pieces.
St Louis probably our best example to follow
Plug away, find tougher, meaner executives and players, and plug away until your magic season falls into your lap.
But I'm running out of time.
(just my usual yearly woe-is-us routine here, nothing to see, move on)

quote:

ORIGINAL: SoMnFan

Oh no. Still time on those contracts
I'm encouraged by Guerins Dubnyk talk
He's the first guy in awhile who isn't saying "we have to make him work, he's under contract"
Those days are gone in ML sports. Time for us to get with it.
Some big decisions to make
Zuccarello did nothing, in the big picture, for us.
Staal was rewarded for being a good soldier, but has reverted to skiing downhill again
Foligno has earned some loyalty imo Hartman a usable guy but needs to be cheap
Rask, no. Galchenyuk, no. Until we turn a corner these short tryouts need to stay just that.

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: stfrank

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

Ek is not Koivu II. He plays with more speed and aggression than Koivu ever did.

A little more speed and aggression that Koivu, but otherwise he is pretty much the same defensive center that will never get you more than 20 goals in a season. I agree we don't need another lock down center. We need a true #1 center that can score and dish out assists to his wingers, not more 200 ft, solid 2-way centers that will only get you 10-15 goals a season and belongs on a checking line.

A LOT more speed and Mikko was only aggressive if somebody like Landaskog pissed him off. Ek is a flat out non stop agitator. He plays with an edge and even some nasty. We'll see where his offensive game winds up. I think he has a lot more upside there than Mikko.

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

It's official. We are not getting Pittsburgh's pick until next year. It's really not a surprise at all. Their embarrassing playoff left them with #15 overall this year instead of #24.